What is a Home Humidifier Good For?

What is a Home Humidifier Good For?

Dry air in your home can be uncomfortable. From dry skin and cracked lips to sinus problems and sore throats, you just want some relief!

Moisturizing the air in your home with a humidifier can make your home environment more comfortable while alleviating many of these health conditions. If you've never tried using a humidifier, you'll be amazed by its many positive effects.

Let's take a look at what a home humidifier can do for you. 

What Is a Humidifier

A humidifier emits water vapor or steam that helps increase the amount of humidity in the air. There are several different types of humidifiers.

  • Ultrasonic humidifiers use vibrations to produce a cool mist into the air.
  • Central humidifiers connect to the central air conditioning in your home or office. This type of humidifier adds moisture to the entire space.
  • Impeller humidifiers use a rotating disk, rather than heat, to emit a cool mist into the air.
  • Evaporators blow evaporating water through a fan.
  • Steam evaporators use electricity and create steam that cools before leaving the unit. These humidifiers carry a burn risk. Use with caution around children.

You can choose a cool or warm air unit to add humidity to your home. Both types have their pros and cons. The type you choose depends on the size of your space, whether you have children or pets, and your personal preference. 

Warm Mist Humidifiers

These humidifiers have a heating element that boils the water in the tank and releases it as steam. There's no internal fan, and they're very quiet as they run. The water in the tank gets very hot, so use extreme caution around young children.

Cool Mist Humidifiers

These humidifiers emit a room temperature mist into the air. A fan blows the mist through a filter.

They have a cooling effect and use less electricity than warm mist models. You should clean them often to avoid a buildup of mold or bacteria.  

The sizes of humidifiers vary. Most units work well in small to large bedrooms or spaces. They're generally small enough to transport from room to room or take with you when you travel.

Using a Humidifier

Many people use humidifiers during the coldest months of the year. This helps combat the dry effects of running the heater for hours on end. But some people use them in the warmer months to combat allergies and dry skin as well.

You can use a humidifier year-round to add moisture and comfort to your home. You can put one in your bedroom, baby's room, living room, office, or any room you choose.

Place your humidifier where you need it most. They are portable, so can move them from room to room as needed.

parents with children dance

Enjoy Softer Skin

If you suffer from dry, itchy, or peeling skin, your skin may need some extra hydration. Many people experience dry skin in the winter months when the temperature drops. 

Spending time outdoors in the cold can be hard on your skin. Even worse, running constant heat indoors depletes your skin of the moisture it needs to look its best.

Using a humidifier helps circulate moisture back into your home. And this is great for your skin and lips. With regular use, your skin will drink in the moisture and look and feel softer.

Use your humidifier anytime your skin feels dry and needs a little moisture boost. Drinking plenty of water, using a moisturizing cream, and running your humidifier as you sleep will work wonders for dry, itchy skin.

Minimize the Look of Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Dry indoor air dehydrates your skin and enhances fine lines and wrinkles. Dry skin makes you look tired and keeps you from looking your best.

Drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier can help. A humidifier sends moisture into the air that your skin craves.

Extra moisture plumps up the skin and minimizes the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Use a humidifier as part of your skincare routine to help you look and feel your best. 

Counteract Dry Indoor Air

Running your air conditioner or heater all the time can dry out your skin, throat, and sinuses. Cold air and hot dry air have the same effect.

They dehydrate your skin and can cause a dry throat and irritated sinus passages. You can counteract dry indoor air and its effects by running a humidifier.

A humidifier helps breathe moisture back into the air and your skin. If you find yourself spritzing your face with moisture sprays at home or work, a humidifier may be a great option for you.

It helps to replace the moisture your air conditioning and heating strip from the air. Over time, using a humidifier can help hydrate your body and improve your breathing. 

Helps with Acne

People of all ages suffer from acne. It's embarrassing and can be hard to control. 

Sometimes washing your face and using all the creams and potions doesn't solve the problem. A humidifier helps to balance the humidity level in your home and may help control your acne.  

Hydration is critical for healthy skin. And more hydration may help your skin achieve the balance it needs to produce less oil and prevent future outbreaks.

Relief from Eczema and Psoriasis

Many people suffer from eczema, psoriasis, and other chronic skin conditions. These conditions cause a variety of symptoms, including red, irritated, and inflamed patches on the skin. 

Using a humidifier adds moisture to the air and may help ease some of these irritating skin symptoms. Although there's no cure for these chronic conditions, extra hydration may provide some relief.

Moisturize Your Hair

If your hair looks dry, lackluster, or frizzy, it may lack the hydration it needs. Like dry skin, dry hair craves moisture too. 

Without it, hair is difficult to tame or hold a style. A humidifier may help. Continuous moisture can benefit your hair and your scalp.

Using a humidifier as you sleep may help calm the frizzes, tame split ends, and give your hair a smoother, shinier appearance.

Improve Your Sleep

When you don't get enough sleep, your skin tells the story. Tired skin accentuates fine lines and wrinkles. And moisturizer and makeup can't solve the problem.

If sinus problems or a sore throat keeps you awake, a humidifier may be the answer. Adding hydration to the air helps to moisturize your skin, throat, and nasal passages.

This can help you breathe easier and sleep better. Extra moisture in a room adds comfort, so you can get the sleep you need to wake up looking and feeling refreshed.

Control Dandruff and Itchy Scalp

Dandruff is a common problem that's both irritating and embarrassing. You worry if the flakes in your hair or on your clothes are visible to others.

While dandruff shampoos and treatments can help, there's more you can do. Using a humidifier adds extra moisture to the air around you. 

This moisture nourishes your hair and scalp. More moisture may lead to fewer flakes, dryness, and itching.

If you suffer from a dry, itchy, or flaking scalp, adding a humidifier to your daily routine may be the answer.

Ease Coughs and Congestion

A humidifier won't cure your cold, but it can help relieve some of the symptoms. Humidifiers work well in easing congestion associated with colds, the flu, and other respiratory illnesses.

The moisture from a humidifier soothes irritated nasal passages and sore, scratchy throats. This may ease your cough and loosen your congestion. A little relief allows you to breathe easier and sleep better too.

Halt the Spread of Germs

Using a humidifier during cold and flu season may decrease your chances of getting sick. Adding humidity to the air creates a less favorable environment for cold and flu viruses to survive. 

Of course, there's much more you can do to stay healthy. But if using a humidifier can reduce your risk of getting sick, it's worth a try.

Reduce Snoring

Dry air can make snoring worse and keep you and your partner awake. A lack of moisture in the room causes nasal congestion and swelling of the throat. 

When your nasal passages are restricted during the night, you snore. This can make getting a good night's sleep difficult for the snorer and impossible for anyone else nearby.

A humidifier adds moisture to the room and may decrease breathing problems and reduce snoring.

Use in Your Child's Room

Humidifiers are popular gifts for new mothers. Babies, especially newborns, often have breathing issues due to dry or clogged nasal passages. 

Adding a humidifier to your child's room may loosen congestion and help them breathe easier. Some parents use humidifiers to help combat asthma symptoms as well.

The moisture from a humidifier is good for your child's delicate skin and lips. It can help soften dry patches of cradle cap too.

The moist air helps to warm your baby's room in the winter. As temperatures drop, a humidifier helps to keep the temperature at a comfortable level.

mom kisses baby's leg

And better yet, the soft sound of a humidifier may help lull your child to sleep. That's a bonus for you and your little one.

Humidify Your Houseplants

Believe it or not, a humidifier is good for your plants too. When the air in your home is dry, it affects your plants. 

Some popular houseplants thrive in a moist environment and will drink in the humidity. This extra hydration may prevent leaf loss, dry leaves, or stunted growth.

If you don't have a green thumb, try plugging in the humidifier and give those plants a fighting chance.

Protect Furniture and Floors 

Wood furniture and floors do not hold up well when the humidity in your home constantly fluctuates.

When wood is too dry, it splits and cracks over time. When it's too wet, it can warp and mildew.

Setting your humidifier to supply an optimal level of humidity helps protect the natural beauty of your wood furniture and floors.

Keeping Your Humidifier Clean

If you don't keep your humidifier clean, it can breed mold and bacteria. This can be a big problem if you or a family member has asthma or allergies.

No one wants to breathe in contaminated mist. This can contribute to breathing problems and even flu-like symptoms. 

Be sure to clean your humidifier regularly. It should provide fresh, clean mist and many health benefits for years to come.

Tips for Cleaning 

  • Use distilled water in the tank. Tap water contains minerals that can leave deposits inside the humidifier.
  • Change the water often. Empty the tank and dry the inside surfaces every day or at least once a week.
  • Unplug the tank before cleaning it. Clean with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Some manufacturers recommend other disinfectants. Read the recommendations for your particular model.
  • Change the filters regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Keep the area around the humidifier dry. If you notice the carpet, curtains, or other surfaces close to your humidifier are damp, turn down the humidifier.
  • Before storing your humidifier, drain and clean it. Clean it again before using and replace any filters, cartridges, or cassettes.

If you have a central humidifier, it's built into your air conditioning system. Read the manufacturer's recommendations for care or ask a heating and cooling specialist for guidance.

With proper care, humidifiers can last for years. Over time, they can develop mineral deposits that are impossible to remove. These deposits can lead to bacteria growth.

When this happens, it's time to replace your humidifier.

Choosing a Home Humidifier

A home humidifier can benefit your overall health in so many ways. Extra hydration in the air helps you breathe better, feel better, and sleep better.

Whether you need a humidifier for your bedroom, nursery, office, or any other space, there are many varieties to choose from.

If you are looking for a humidifier for the first time or are needing to replace an old model, we'd love to assist you. Contact us today.  

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